[Wedge Resection in Poor Risk Patients with Clinical-N0 Pure Solid Lung Cancer]

Sublobar resection is practically indicated in poor risk patients compromised cardiopulmonary reserve or for small ground-glass opacity-dominant adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study was to clarify the surgical outcomes of wide wedge resection in poor risk patients with clinical-N0 pure solid lung cancers.

Between 2008 and 2015, 55 poor risk patients, who underwent wedge resection for clinical-N0 pure solid lung cancer, were retrospectively reviewed.

The 5-year overall, recurrence-free, and lung cancer specific survivals of all patients were 38.1%,15.6% and 53.6%,respectively, while other malignancies were frequently found as causes of death. Only cancer specific survival was favorable in patients with low carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) level ≤ 3.0 ng/ml. No significant differences were observed in tumor size and histological type.

Wide wedge resection could not be radical treatment option for clinical-N0 pure solid lung cancer regardless of tumor size. The operative indication should be carefully considered especially in patients with elevated serum CEA level, which showed high risk of postoperative recurrence.